Giant Push Ball Battle

Two teams push a giant ball with their hands to move it over the other team's end line, in waves that rotate in. It is a combative game with no person-to-person contact where students build strength, teamwork, and positioning skills.

How to play

1. Mark a 30 x 15 yd field with a center line and two end lines. Put the giant ball in the middle; two teams of 12 in pinnies, with the extra student as referee (2 min).
2. Each team splits into three waves of 4. Only the wave in play touches the ball; the others wait behind their end line.
3. On the whistle, the first waves run to the ball and push it with their hands toward the other end line.
4. Every 30 seconds the whistle blows: the wave in play returns to its end line and the next wave comes out.
5. When the whole ball crosses an end line, the pushing team scores. The ball goes back to the center.
6. Play two 6-minute halves. At halftime, each team decides whether to push from behind or steer from the sides.

Rules

• Touch the ball with hands only: no kicking, heading, or climbing on it.
• No pushing or grabbing opponents.
• Never stand in front of the ball while the other team pushes hard: defend from the side.
• If anyone falls, the referee whistles and everyone stops.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: push from the wheelchair in a wave of 3 with longer turns.
• Hearing impairment: the referee raises a pinnie at every wave change.
• Fitness level: a student who needs a rest serves as line judge for one wave.

Learning goals

• Apply force in coordination with teammates.
• Find good positions to push or steer the ball.
• Follow the rotation and the no-contact rule.

Equipment for a class of 25

• giant ball: 1
• cones: 12
• colored pinnies: 24

Teacher tip

The main risk is the ball rolling over someone in front of it: insist on defending from the sides. Without a giant ball, a thick mat slid across the gym floor works in a similar way.

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